By Mimi
What does it mean to be Muslim in Canada? How do we define ourselves? And how do others define us?
Growing up as a muslim in Canada is difficult, whether it be islamophobia or dealing with disagreements with your local Imam. All around you, you see different ways of being muslim and practicing the religion. The diverse ethnic groups and religious affiliations you’ll meet in your local Muslim Student Association will show you that there is no one way to practice the religion.
I remember joining the MSA at my university and recognizing that despite how we are perceived by the wider majority, the diversity within our community is huge and it’s without a doubt impacts our relations with other muslims.
Internal Diversity & Perceptions
A lot of us define as muslims prior to declaring our ethnicity, sect or even language preference, and it’s primarily because we are a small population. There are very few Bosnian Sunni practicing muslims or Indian Ismaili muslim, so we often unite despite our differences so as to belong. Yet the differences impact us within our communities. Even within a shared nationality say Lebanese: some practice Druz, Shia and Sunni rituals, praying differently and have different literature to follow.
Sometimes I’ve come across small minority muslim identities, who have often confessed that they feel ashamed and scared to share their identity to other muslims out of fear of retaliation and condemnation. This I’ve seen specifically minority Shia groups like Ishmaili Shia and Ahmadiyya Shia communities, who have faced backlash and discrimination in their homelands from majority Sunni populations. This fear carries into Canada as well, as some Imams and community members have made minority muslim groups feel uncomfortable in mosques and community centres because of their different practices.
The loneliness and isolation that comes from living in a different country, experiencing discrimination from other majority muslim groups is frightening and difficult. It is no wonder then many muslim communities become exclusive organizations that turning in itself, to uphold their beliefs against the world. Being a minority within a minority makes it so, that in order to self-preserve the culture, it means excluding those who do not belong. Fundamentalism and extreme ideologies can develop in those communities and are rife with authoritarian power structures to preserve tradition.
Despite these clear differences, many Imams try to unite under a shared Islam, as one Ummah, but those types of messaging can be even more harmful in that it insinuates assimilation into the broader Sunni muslim community.
Within the sect, there are intersectionalities (ex. Newcomers, third generation vs. 1st generation, queer muslims, converts,) There are no two muslims in Canada who see eye to eye. How social media muslims are making young people more confused. On social media, it gives the mic to the loudest most sanitized version of Islam.There are many muslims on social media who don’t share their muslim part of themselves, people are hiding themselves & don’t see other types of Islam.
So the question arises, how do we define ourselves within the so-called Ummah? What traditions are important to us and who gets to define our values?
External Perceptions from the White Majority
Islamophobia is a massive force in Canada, and it would be naive to ignore the anti-muslim sentiment across the country.
In 2015, the Conservative Party introduced the Surveillance Bill, that encouraged Canadians to spy on their Muslim neighbors for extremist activity
The same year, the “Niqab Ban” became a hot button issue, on whether or not niqab-wearing women were allowed to take the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony
Quebec Bill against Religious garments worn by Public servants, is still on the table and being appealed by the Supreme Court
Rise of Hate Groups across the country
Death of the Pakistani Muslim family in GTA in 2021-2022
Racism against brown-skinned people, Sikhs, Hijabis in Alberta and anyone looking vaguely “muslim”
Proposal for a Canadian Culture text by Conservative member arguing muslims should prove their loyalty to Canada
We are perceived as a threat to Canadian culture, despite the decline and panic over ISIS/ISIL, the fear doesn't really go away. Many hijabi muslim women experience high rates of harassment, violence and threats in the workplace, public spaces and their own homes.
When the media, culture and the government define us as an “enemy”, how do we counteract that? What decisions have we made in order to appease the majority and hide our culture from their eyes so as not to seem “too foreign” or “too barbaric”?
Conclusion
At the end of the day, we define ourselves however we wish to. We should not have to be ashamed, afraid or hide the parts of our traditions that give us joy, purpose and sense of spiritual enlightenment. It would be a deep disservice for us to silence our perspectives on Islam, simply because a powerful Islamic scholar does not agree with us. We practice religion in the way we think is best. It is destructive to create lines in the sand about who is the “real muslim” and who is not. If we self-destruct in our own communities, then we destruct in the eyes of the majority, who will make up any excuse to raise the flames of the fire and question our loyalties to Canada (maybe even oppress us further with more new legislation.)
The Al-Sahabah community is trying to build a space within the muslim community where we come to understand and acknowledge that our differences exist, and that’s ok. To understand underneath all the “haram” “halal” conversation is the deep desire for community, love and belonging. Embodying this belief is allowing the room, the space to speak freely about our own spiritual journeys. And that is something we need.
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